Switch or junction box.



0. C. HOFFMANN. SWITCH 0R JUNCTION BX.

AEPLIUATI'ON num 1,110.9, 1911.

1,026, 1 64. Patented May-14, 191:5..

"Umfrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oTTo c. HOFFMANN, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR To CHAUNCEY R. HATCH,oF

BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SWITCH' OR JNCTION BOX.

Specitcationof Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application led December 9, 1911. Serial No. 664,810.

T0 all whom i't'may/ conce/wa Be it known that I, O'r'ro (l.llorrxualxx, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Switch or Juuction Boxes, of ,which the followingis a specification. i

My invention relates to switch or junction boxes of thaty type commonlyJemployed in buildings equipped with electruxlighting systems, and moreparticularly to the means for adjustably securing the same tothesupporting structure..

Theobject` of my invention is the provision of improved means foradjustably Asecuring a switch or junction boxin the wall 'of a room, andalso `to improve the construction of the box so that after being securedto the Supporting structure, it may be easily adjusted to bringthe'edges of the side and end Walls 0f the box flush with the face ofthe Wall or in any other desired relation thereto.' l

Another object` is the provision of adjusting means arranged whollyoutside of the 1 box so that it is easily. accessible to enable the boxto be adjusted on its supporting structure after the switch is placedtherein Without the necessity of removing the switch therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in providinga switch or junction box with adjustable securing means arranged whollyoutside of the box. i

It furtherconsists in thel novel construction of the securing means,andalso in the is plastered and if adjusted before plaster-` ing, theplasterer must regulate the thickness of'the plaster to the forwardedges of the. box, which is not practicable when perfect plastering isdesired; nor economical, even it' an uneven wall results therefrom andconsequently the box is adjusted with reference to its securing means,now fixed, to bring the forward edges of the `box in proper alinementIwith the surface of the plaster; but in order to do this, the switchmust bc disconnected from the circuit wire and .removed 'from the box.as the means for adjusting, .where adjustment is possible afterplastering. is confined within the box and is notr accessible exceptythe switch is removed. By placing the adjustable securing means whollywithout the box, it is easilyadjustable after plaster-ing withoutnecessitating the removal of the switch and accurate adjustment can bemade at any time after plastering. if required, and as the cover plateextends beyond allsides of vthe box, the securing means are concealed.

n the accompairving drawil'igs, l have illustrated the j irct'erredembodiment of my invention. in which-- Figure l is a perspective view ofa switch or junction box. F ig. 2y is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 isa horixontal 'section taken on line Fig. .2.

wedges. y j j Reference now being' had to the dawings by numerals, 5designates the usual metallic box which is preferably of rectangularconstruction aud may be of any size. depending on the'c'ondition under.which 'it is to be used. As is common in boxes of this type,

4placed over the box and suitably attached.

said face plate having the usual openings for the push-buttons of theswitch to project therethrough, all of which is common in switch orjunction lboxes of this type. ln two opposite walls of the box,preferably the Fig. l is'a (lctached- )ers )ective view of one of thelock end walls, I provide loops-or clips 8 which are advisedly formed byslitting the sheet metaltransversely 'in two lines'and bulging out themetal therebetween. .-The. loop is its other end it is 'beveled orltape-red to- IWard the bottom for i hereinafter. '10

shaped so that at one end it is bulged out' arallel. wit-hV the sides ofthe lbox while at a purpose tov appear Adjust-ably retained within' theloops 8 and 'bearing againsttl'ie walls from which the loops arestampedare bracket-s 9, each comprising a flat body portion ,10 lying'incontact with thewall -and al securing flange v11 arranged at rightangles to the body portion so as to 1 stand outv from" the wall.

` These brackets may bel of any Asuitablesh'ape but are preferablymad'ewith- ,the edges of each body portion 10 vparallel and the flange fofeach bracket has 'openings 1 2 through which 'screws-4 or.' otherfastening device'. are

-passed Ito be driven into the supporting structure. '.The `'bracketsare adjustablein "linesextending from front to rear'of the `box andleach is securely -heldf after' being adjusted by av retainer wedgev13extending placed. Each 4we dfge'has its beveled for tafpered vedge 14.in contact with .the tapered '3'5 Vedgev ofthe bracket, and' the taperedend wall of said loop, thus securely fastening,

thebrackets as positioned.v In order -toy prevent removal ofthewedge'sthesma-ll or inner end thereof is bent outward agtrifie, as at'15, `and to 'enablethis being done ata point near v itsextremity, afterbeing placed in its cooperating loop,- itnis -cut partly i I' throughthe metal transversely to weaken it, -asat 16, .and when forceis appliedto the end, itwill bend along the weakened portionthus formed. It is tobe understood that the wedgesare bent in .this manner after being.positioned in the loops and by. thus weakening them there isno4chanceoffbending anyl other part of the wedgesout of.. straightline.They' will therefore always be Ain perfectv shape to performthefunctions forwhich they are designed. lThe large'or outer end of eachwedge has 'an offset'portion 17 and is also .provided with anoutstanding lipy 18'jbetween which and the adjacent edge offthe securingflange'll is a space 19. `These lips provide convenient means formanipulating the retainer wedges .and when they are in planes in rear ofsaid securing flanges, it is simply necessary in loosening each"wedge toinsert a ,nail or" 1.' "A switch or vj with said brackets tov hold othersuitable .device underneath` -the'lip1-- thereof and have it' bearagainst thel agifaces of' said walls,V and retainer lwedges 36 jacentedgeof the' securing flange as a'fuli Crum.

- By means of my invention, the brackets can be easily adjusted 'on thebox and thebox can'as `readily be `ad'usted with reference -to theVbrackets when thelatter arei sec'nred v to .the supporting'structure, asthe 'entire vsecuring means 1s located outside off the boX. Theconstruction also permits of avery quick and accurate adjustment with-75.

outthe necessity of removing. the boxfrom'- being' once placed therein..

Having4 thu's described what I claim lis',- unc'tionbox having loops .onopposite-wal-ls, brackets adjustable in.

said-loops, and retainer wedges coeactindg4 the same in a Ajustedposition.-

...2. A Switchof innesta box? 'having brackets' adjustably held thereon,and. reftainer wedges co-,acti-ng 'withsaid briackets. A -to hold themin adjusted position.

' 3. .A switch orjunction .box having intel-@ justably fitting into saidloopsand having outstanding securing flanges, and a retainer wedgecoacting with each bracket'and 'movg` .4l .A lswitch or junction boxhaving loops on :opposite walls, 'a bracket .adjustable mi each loopandhaving a securing flange jat lbi-ts jouter end,- retainer wedgesin:said-'loops .engaging 'said .brackets an'd having outf standingears-atthis upper end.

"' 5. Aswitch orjj' 'nction boitr having loops -on opposite walls,- oneend wall of :each 'loop being taperedinward, a bracket ad-.. .1 5-justable in each. loop and-.havinga' vscouring flange `at ,its outerend, and retainer wedges tting into said loopsbetween-the tapered walls'-'thereof and. the "bracketsf 1'10 6.. 'A switch or junction boxhavingloops on therein.

opposite-walls, a bracket adjustable in'v each loop and .having asecuring' flange at 1ts outer end, and retainer wedges'between' said andhaving odset outer ends. and entstand! ing ears at saidv ends...

'71, A switch .or junction 4having-loops on opposite walls, a bracketadjustable in eachv loop and having a securing flange at its .able.Within the 19o-P" DQT 'Which 'its CQ- .-9.591 .actinggbracketts.

y brackets and one of the ends 'Of said loops-.1151i outer end, andretainer'wedges between 'said brackets vand one of Athe ends ofsaid-loops,

each retainer wedgev having an incision near 'fits inner end and itsinner end lpcntion bent outward from said-incision to its extremity. 8.A switch or junction boxhaving loopsl on...oppo site walls, bracketsadjustablel in' said yloops fandl in contact wit-h 'the outer ivabl'e isSat1-.10ers @Mariages against Suid' brackets iw) retain them inadjusted. siwnature in the presence of two subscribing l? posltlon, saldHemmer wedges lymg 1n (ronwltnesses. tact with Hw outer fzln-m of Said'HUD' and Tf A HOI1 .IMANY having i'lwlr mner ends bent Outward nm] O rL L 5 prnvlfked at then uppr ends wlth outslnmh \Viincsses:

mg @n1-s. EMIL NEUHART,

In testimony whereof, T havc affixed mv JACOB OERsT, J1'

